Prosecutor: Orange officials violated records law

Published: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 1:01 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 1:01 p.m.

ORLANDO — A prosecutor in Orlando says Orange County's mayor and four county commissioners broke Florida's public record laws when they deleted text messages from lobbyists on their phones.

But State Attorney Jeff Ashton said in a report Wednesday that the Orange County leaders didn't realize the text messages are considered public records. The officials face only $500 in civil fines rather than criminal charges.

Ashton launched the investigation after it was discovered that some Orange County commissioners had deleted text messages from corporate lobbyists last year while they considered putting a sick leave referendum on the November ballot.

The referendum would have required big employers to extend sick leave time to workers. It was opposed by some of Orange County's biggest employers.

Commissioners voted to keep the initiative off the ballot.

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